What Is HVO Fuel?

HVO fuel, otherwise known as hydrotreated vegetable oil, is a low-carbon fuel made from renewable materials such as animal and vegetable oils. The use of these materials makes HVO fuel an eco-friendly product and significantly reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions across the UK.

This kind of fuel provides many benefits to the environment, giving businesses a reason to divert from traditional fossil fuels and make a positive change to the level of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

What Is HVO Used For?

HVO is a sustainable alternative product that is compatible with almost any piece of equipment or vehicle engine that currently operates on types of fuel and oils such as diesel, kerosene, and lubricants.

The product is growing in popularity and usage by businesses up and down the UK is increasing massively. HVO is an alternative to common fossil fuels and is approved by a large number of manufacturers and industries. HVO is great for vehicles and machinery.

How Is HVO Produced?

HVO fuel is made up of vegetable oils and animal fats using hydrogen and catalysts. By using hydrogen and catalysts at high temperatures and pressures to form HVO into a product, HVO is formed.

The use of Hydrogen and vegetable oils is what makes HVO a more sustainable and eco-friendly product than regular diesel. HVO reduces the volume of CO2 when used for machinery and vehicle purposes.

What Is The Difference Between HVO And Biodiesel Fuel?

HVO and biodiesel fuel don’t have many differences in terms of energy. However, HVO does have an advantage over biodiesel in the production process. HVO has proven to be a more sustainable and consistent product to utilise.

During the production process, HVO uses hydrogen, whereas biodiesel uses methanol. Using methanol in the esterification process creates fewer issues for HVO when it’s used to fuel equipment and vehicles.

It’s common for businesses and consumers across the UK to look for more sustainable fuel solutions. HVO is a product that’s being used more frequently than fuels such as biodiesel. As a country, we should implement small changes where we can in order to have a better future – using HVO certainly contributes to this.

HVO is used in machinery and vehicles all year round, allowing businesses to function effectively on a daily basis. Making sure you have a reliable supply of HVO is key.

What Are The Benefits Of Using HVO?

The popularity of HVO is increasing rapidly due to the wide array of benefits it has on both businesses and consumers in comparison to other diesel fuels.

Eco-Friendly

Since HVO is made from environmentally friendly materials, the impact on the environment is a lot less compared to when other fuels are produced. The more frequent production of HVO has therefore led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% across the UK.

The use of Hydrogen in the production of HVO compared to methanol in biodiesels has made the product a lot cleaner when used – this means that there have been fewer harmful emissions such as CO2 in the atmosphere when HVO fuels are burned.

Longer Shelf Life

Hydrogen is a key catalyst in the production of HVO fuel that results in a longer shelf life for the product compared to the likes of diesel.

HVO fuel can be stored for up to 10 years, whereas diesel can be stored for just one year. Making the switch to HVO from diesel is a lot easier for businesses, as the product is more efficient and effective in the long term.

Regular testing for stored HVO fuel will be required less, due to its longer lifespan. Other fuels require more testing when they’re stored for a long period of time, increasing the budget for vital testing equipment.

The Disadvantages of Using HVO

Even though HVO fuel is a more beneficial product to utilise compared to other biodiesel, there are some disadvantages to consider when using the fuel as an alternative.

Higher Cost

Using HVO fuel as an alternative can involve a higher operating cost in comparison to other fuels, which is important for businesses to consider if they’re not in a position to increase their expenditure.

At this stage, HVO is more expensive than diesel in the current market. When choosing your supplier, the price of HVO will vary. You can expect to pay roughly 10% more than what you would pay for regular diesel.

However, HVO has shown to be more beneficial in the long-term by reducing the current carbon emissions and being a more efficient product for machinery equipment, and vehicles.

Deforestation

If produced from palm oil, HVO could contribute to deforestation and high carbon emissions. Impacting the UK’s environment could bring negative publicity to your business, which isn’t ideal. It’s vital to consider this factor before using the product.

Limited Purchase

In the UK, there is limited availability for the supply of HVO. This is due to the country’s supply chain not being fully developed. When switching to HVO, there’s a variety of companies located across the country that can provide you with a reliable supply of HVO – including ourselves here at Pleavin Petroleum.

HVO Fuel at Pleavin Petroleum

At Pleavin Petroleum, the team is dedicated to providing a supply of HVO to customers in need. We believe that HVO is a higher-quality and environmentally-friendly alternative to other well-known fuels.

We can guarantee excellent service to all customers at Pleavin Petroleum by providing the best services and abilities at all times. Customer satisfaction is of great importance to the team as we aim to ensure that you are beyond pleased with the services we provide.